I haven’t disappeared; I’ve just been super busy doing other things. I just wanted to mention something I just read — Trump Will End Subsidies for Medicare Drug Premiums
The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it intended to end a Biden-era program that for the past two years has helped tamp down the cost of monthly premiums for drug coverage for people on Medicare.
The decision means that millions of Americans 65 and older could face higher Medicare drug premiums next year, when the cost of living is already a major concern. That could be politically damaging for Republicans in the midterm elections. In the weeks leading up to November, Medicare beneficiaries could experience sticker shock while shopping for next year’s drug plan.
For 2025 and 2026, the federal government gave health insurers billions of dollars in subsidies to help them keep down drug premiums for people on Medicare. Without the subsidies, millions of people could have had to pay hundreds of dollars more a year for their drug plans.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a post on social media on Tuesday that the subsidies had been ended because the insurers no longer needed them. He said every Medicare beneficiary would still have options for low-cost plans.
It is not at all clear to me what Oz thinks has changed so that the subsidies are not longer needed. I’m betting Dem congressional candidates around the nation are already arranging for ads to be made about this. Once again, it’s almost as if Trump wants Republicans to lose.
He flip flops between a) not caring if Rep's lose this November (because the Project 25 intends to make congress irrelevant [i.e. powerless]; and b) caring if Rep's lose this November because he doesn't want to be impeached. Either way, the only thing he can come up with for an action to take is to try to get mindless sycophants into as many governmental positions as possible, by hook or by crook (preferably crook).
Did not donnie tell "the people" that 2024 elections would be the last time they would "have" to vote?
To me, his message is clear.
Yes, there's that too, but it might be dependent at this point in time on Congress passing the SAVE act (another wolf in sheep's clothing bill by the R's).
This regime is trying everything to subvert the democratic elements in our constitutional republic.
I agree that Project 2025 thinks that Congress can be neutered. That's true if a majority agree to the surgery but ONLY as long as there's a majority who agrees. The process is not permanent castration – it's reversable like a vasectomy, through elections. Hungary proved taking back power CAN be done.
Project 2025 is based on the idea that there CAN be a Constitutional autocracy. IMO, the founders were dead set against that – they were reacting to King George. Trump is pushing hard to negate huge swaths of voters who do not like him. (Women voters) He's failing in the courts and it's not going to be enough anyway.
I do not predict complete success in one voting cycle, but the trend is clearly set.
The comment by Oz is telling. He is saying insurers don't need the subsidies because that's who they care about. Kevin Hassett made a similar corporate focused response when asked a few weeks ago if he was concerned about the increase in credit card debt. He said it was a good thing because it helped the banks and increased their bottom line.
Typical bullshit from this crew. Not a care in the world about how policy affects people but always excited when corporations do better at the expense of consumers and citizens.
These bastards are flat out evil.
Quote of the Day:
During the 20th Century, public health, education, and "the safety net" were established to give countries an advantage in country-sized conflicts. Now that our government has been captured by rich individuals competing with each other, money spent on "the public good" is perceived as worthless.
– Michael Gerber
My new past time – and there's an ever growing chorus – is listening to MAGA tears. My favorite part starts around 2:30, when a black guy comes on and tells white folks how it is.
Reality smackdown. Fantastic.